Logging apparatus



April 25, 1939. E. H. KING LOGGING APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed May9, 1938 A ril 25, 1939. E. H. KING LOGGING APPARATUS Filed May 9, 1958 2SheetsSheet 2 LII-LIE- WWW Patented Apr. 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to logging devices and more particularly to anattachment to be placed on a tractor for towing, pulling, raising ordragging logs.

5 An object of this invention is to provide in combination with atractor having an endless tread or traction an attachment in the form ofa rig or elevating means which may be readily secured to the frame orbody of the tractor so 10 as to permit the use of the tractor in thehandling of logs.

This invention is an improvement over the structure disclosed in myco-pending application Serial Number 173,023 which was filed November 55, 1937, now Patent No. 2,131,402, granted September 27, 1938.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rig forattachment to the frame of the tractor so that the device may be readily2o removed from the tractor when desired and will not interfere with theoperation of the tractor when the rig or elevating structure is removed.

A further object of this invention is to provide an attachment of thiskind which is simple in construction and which may be readily mounted onthe tractor frame without disturbing the present parts of the tractor.

To the above objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, theinvention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understoodthat changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fallwithin the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a detail side elevation of a tractor having an attachmentconstructed according to an embodiment of this invention mountedthereon,

Figure 2 is a detail top plan of the tractor,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, I

Figure 4 is a detail front elevation of the tractor and loggingattachment,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan of one side of the tractor andlogging structure,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6of Figure 1, and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section showing themanner of attaching a portion of the rig or elevating structure to theframe of the tractor.

55 Referring to the drawings, the numeral Ill designates generally atractor structure including a frame or body ll provided with an engineor motor structure I3 and front and rear wheels I and I respectively.The tractor ID has the Wheels [4 and I5 thereof formed after the man- 5ner of sprocket wheels and a pair of endless tread or traction members16 and H are trained over the wheels [4 and I5 and are provided withspaced apart lugs l8 so as to facilitate traction.

In the handling of logs it is desirable that the 10 logs at times beelevated at one end and then pulled forwardly onto a skid and for thispurpose I have provided a winding drum l9 which is supported by means ofbracket members 20 at the rear of the tractor frame II. The drum I9 isoperatively connected to the engine or motor l3 by a shaft and gearstructure 2|. The drum I9 is adapted to have a cable or flexible member22 wound thereabout and this cable or flexible member 22 passes over arotatable pulley or upper drum 23. The drum or pulley 23 is rotatablymounted on a shaft 24 which engages a pair of dependent arms 25 carriedby a sleeve or bushing 26. The sleeve or bushing 26 is mounted on thestraight or horizontal portion 21 of a U- 25 shaped bracing or rigmember generally designated as 28.

The rig member 28 comprises a substantially U-shaped frame member whichadjacent the bight thereof is bowed outwardly as at 29. This 30 bowedstructure is provided so as to permit the ends of logs or the like toswing laterally without striking the parallel portions of the U-shapedmember 28. The parallel legs 30 of the frame member 28 are provided attheir lower ends with an insert 3| which is secured as by bolts orrivets in the hollow lower end of the parallel leg members 30. Thisinsert 3| provides a bearing structure and engages a reduced stud 33which is carried by an outstanding relatively large stud 34. The stud 34is provided with a base or inner flange 35 which is secured as by rivetsor other fastening devices 36 to the side of the frame H. The parallellegs 30 of the frame or rig member 38 are preferably bent longitudinallyadjacent their lower ends as shown at 31 and at this point each leg 30has a U-shaped shackle or clevis 38 engaging thereabout and secured asby welding 39.

The U-shaped rig member 28 is held in substantially upstanding positionby means of a pair of upwardly and rearwardly inclined extensiblebracing or holding members 40. The bracing members 40 comprise an innertubular member 4| and an outer tubular member 42 which telescopes intothe tubular member 4| and the tubular member 42 is provided with aplurality of longitudinally spaced apart holes 43 through which a bolt44 engages, the bolt 44 engaging through the tubular member 4| andholding the two members 4| and 42 in longitudinally ad- Justed position.

The lower end of the tubular member 4| is provided with a bearing insert45 which engages an outstanding supporting structure 46 provided with abase flange 41. The base flange 41 is secured as by bolts or rivets 48to the side of the frame II. The upper ends of the bracing mem bers 40are provided with an eye 49 which is secured in the upper end of atubular member 42 by means of bolts or rivets 59. The eye 49 engagesabout the bight 21 of the U-shaped member 28 and this eye 49 is heldagainst movement lengthwise of the bight 21 by means of collars and 52engaging on opposite sides of the eye 49. The sleeve member 26 for thedrum supporting means is held against lengthwise movement on the bight21 by means of end collars 53 and 54.

A skid or inclined platform 55 is secured to the shackles or clevis 38and comprises plate 56 which is secured to a pair of channel members 51as by bolts or rivets 58. The channel members 51 adjacent the rear endsthereof are bent upwardly on an obtuse angle as at 59 and the upwardlyextended ends of the channel members 51 are secured between the shackle38 by a bolt 60. The plate 56 is provided at a central point adjacentthe outer edge thereof with an opening in the form of a slot 6i so thata hook 62 carried by the elevating member 22 may engage in the slot 6|and hook in the forward edge of the plate 56 so that this skid structuremay be elevated as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

A pulling or towing drum 63 is secured on bracket members 64 carried bythe frame II at a point below the elevating drum l9 and the drum 63 isconnected to the motor or engine l3 by a gear train 65. Aflexible member66 in the form of a rope or cable is wound about the drum 63 and isprovided with a hook 61 at its free end which is adapted to be engagedin a. well known manner with a log so as to pull the log forwardly or inthe direction of the tractor III while at the same time, the log mayhave its forward end elevated by means of the elevating cable 22.

In the use and operation of this device, when the tractor I0 is beingmoved to a place where it.

is desired to pull the logs, the skid or platform 55 is held in anupraised position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. In this positionthe elevating structure does not interfere with the normal operation ofthe tractor. When it is desired to pull one or more logs onto the skid55 the skid is lowered and released from the hook 62. This hook 62 maythen be attached to one end of a log and at the same time the hook 61carried by the pulling cable 66 may be attached to the same log so as topermit the ready pulling in a horizontal movement of the log whileholding one end of the log in a slightly elevated position. The ends ofthe logs may be pulled up onto the skid 55 and firmly held on this skidby means of the cable 66. The tractor may then be moved to the desiredlocation dragging the logs with the forward ends of the logs in anelevated position on the skid 55. By attaching the forward end of theskid supporting beams or channel members 51 to theshackle or clevis 38which is fixed to an arm of the U-shaped bracing member 26 the rigstructure will not interfere with the operation of any of the presentparts of the tractor and, if desired, the rig or elevating structure maybe readily detached from the tractor merely by loosening the nuts on thethreaded studs 33 and 46.

This attachment is an exceedingly simple attachment which may be mountedon a conventional tractor structure without changing any of the presentparts of the tractor, it being only necessary that the outstandingtrunnions or studs 33 and 46 be secured in outstanding position to theframe of the tractor. The rig structure supporting the U-shaped member28 and the bracing members 40 extend at their upper ends be yond therear end of the tractor so that when the elevating cable 22 is operated,the log will be elevated directly over the skid 55.

What I claim is:

1. A logging att' hment for a tractor comprising a substantiallyU-shaped member, means engaging the bight of the member and the frame ofthe tractor for supporting the member with the bight thereof inupstanding position, laterally projecting studs fixed relative to thetractor and engaging the lower ends of said member for securing the freelegs of the member to the frame of the tractor, a rotatable membercarried by the bight of the .U-shaped member, a flexible member engagingabout said rotatable member, a skid member, a U-shaped shackle fixedlysecured to the legs of said U-shaped member adjacent the lower endsthereof, and means swingably securing said skid member to said shackles.

2. A logging attachment for a tractor comprising a U-shaped frame memberdisposed in upwardly inclined position, means securing the free ends ofsaid member to the frame of the tractor, means engaging the frame of thetractor and the bight of said member for fixedly holding said member inupwardly inclined position, a drum member, means rotatably supportingsaid drum member from the bight of said first member, a flexible memberengaging about said drum, said frame member having the parallel legsthereof longitudinally bent in the direction of the tractor frame, askid member, forwardly and upwardly extending arms secured to said skidmember, a U-shaped shackle engaging said frame member at substantiallythe angle between the bent portions thereof, and means securing saidarms to said shackles.

3. In combination with a tractor a substantially U-shaped frame memberdisposed in upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, laterallyextending studs carried by the traqor and engaging the free ends of saidmember for securing the free ends of said member to the frame of thetractor, a pair of upwardly and rearwardly inclined bracing members,laterally extending studs carried by the tractor and engaging the lowerends of said bracing members for securing the lower ends of said bracingmember to the frame of the tractor, means securing the upper ends ofsaid bracing members to the bight of said frame member, an elevatingdrum, means rotatably supporting said drum from the bight of said framemember, a flexible member engaging about said drum, 9. pair of U-shapedshackle members, means fixedly securing said shackle members to saidframe member adjacent the lower ends of the free legs thereof, a skidmember, and means swingably securing said skid member to said shackles.

4. In combination with a tractor, a substantially U-shaped frame memberdisposed in upwardly and rearwardly inclined position with the bightthereof uppermost, a pair of outstanding studs, means securing saidstuds to the free ends of said frame member, means securing said studsto the frame .of the tractor, a pair of longitudinally extensiblebracing members, means securing an end of said bracing members to theframe of the tractor, means securing the opposite ends of said bracingmembers to the bight of said frame member, a dependent bracket carriedby the bight of said frame member, a drum member rotatably engaging saidbracket, 2. flexible member trained over said drum, a pair of U-shapedshackle members, means securing a. shackle member to a leg of said framemember adjacent the lower end thereof, a skid member, a pair of channelmembers fixed to said skid member and extending forwardly and upwardlytherefrom, and means swingably securing said channel members between theparallel legs of said shackles.

5. In a tractor structure, a logging attachment comprising a U-shapedframe member disposed in upwardly and rearwardly inclined positionrelative to said tractor, a pair of laterally extending studs, flangescarried by an end of each stud, means securing said flanges to the frameof the tractor, reduced extensions carried by each stud, means engagingthe free ends of said frame member detachably securing said frame memberon said studs whereby the free ends of said frame member will bedisposed laterally of the wheels of the tractor, a pair of extensiblebracing members, outstanding studs carried by the frame of the tractorengaging the lower ends of said bracing members, means detachablysecuring the lower ends of said bracing members on said latter studs,means securing the upper ends of said bracing members on the bight ofsaid frame member, said frame member having outwardly bowed portions atthe upper ends of the free legs thereof, an elevating drum, meansswingably and rotatably supporting said drum from the bight of saidframe member, an elevating cable engaging over said drum, the free legsof said frame member being longitudinally bent adjacent the lower endsthereof in the direction of the forward end of the tractor, a U-shapedshackle member engaging the bent portion of a leg of said frame member,a skid member, a pair of channel members fixed to said skid member andextending forwardly and upwardly therefrom, and means swingably securingsaid skid member to said shackle members.

ELSIEI-I. KING.

